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Orangeville officials to ask City Council to require meters on secondary irrigation connections after shortfall
Summary
Planning commissioners were told Special Service District staff reported at least nine secondary connections were irrigating farmland and that Orangeville exceeded its irrigation allotment last year; staff recommended meters on those connections and the issue will go to City Council for consideration.
Orangeville planning commissioners were told on Feb. 10 that the city’s irrigation supply fell short last year and that Special Service District representatives advised installing meters on secondary water connections used to irrigate farmland.
Doug Stilson presented the City Council report and said district representatives had informed Mayor Bell there are "at least nine" secondary connections being used for farm irrigation, such as alfalfa, and that the city went over its allotment last year. The Special Service District recommended putting meters on those connections to measure usage and help manage demand, Stilson said.
The commission did not take action on the recommendation; Stilson said the matter will be brought to the City Council for consideration. The report did not specify a proposed meter schedule, estimated costs, or a department responsible for implementation.
Commissioners framed the issue as a supply-management and equity matter for the city’s water system and asked staff to provide a draft ordinance or policy options for council review. No formal vote or timeline for City Council action was recorded at the commission meeting.
Next steps: city staff will present the Special Service District recommendation and any proposed draft language to the City Council; no effective date or funding source was specified at the meeting.
